The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen following a failed drug test he took prior to his UFC 117 bout against middleweight champion Anderson Silva on Aug. 7, 2010.

Sonnen dominated Silva with punches, takedowns and ground and pound for the majority of five rounds until Silva slapped on a triangle choke submission with less than two minutes remaining in the bout forcing Sonnen to tapout.

The details of the suspension were noted in a statement released the CSAC on Wednesday:

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended the license of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Chael Sonnen, after Sonnen tested positive for steroids, a banned substance.

A sample from Sonnen’s August 6 drug test came back with a high T/E (testosterone-to-estrogen) level, which is indicative of anaboloic steroid use. CSAC learned of the results September 2 and ordered a second test, which also came back positive for steroid use. CSAC received test results from the second sample on September 14 and suspended Sonnen two days later. He is suspended for one year. Sonnen has 30 days to appeal the decision.

“The use of anabolic steroids and other banned substances are not tolerated by the commission,” said CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd. “Anabolic agents put the health and safety of both the user and his opponents at risk.”

Sonnen’s test was observed in the presence of a CSAC representative and the sample was sent to the World Anti-doping Agency test facility at the University of California, Los Angeles on August 6, 2010 for processing.

Sonnen had been granted an immediate rematch against Silva for another shot at the title, but because of his suspension Silva will now face Vitor Belfort, possibly at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, 2011, in Las Vegas.

[source]

4 thoughts on “Chael Sonnen receives one year suspension from CSAC”
  1. It’s great to see this story again.
    Anytime there are stories written on Nate Marquardt, they should run this story alongside it.
    How can any reporter say that Sonnen is the only person to ever go the distance with Silva, without mentioning this suspension?

  2. i hope you get sued by dana white and the ufc for slander, everyone knows what really happened, it was just a disclosure issue, nothing more, nothing less

  3. and you andy are a complete retard. “slander”? for reporting that an athlete failed a drug test. if anyone is at fault here it’s the CSAC you moron, they’re the ones that released the statement. you people kill me, throwing around words like slander and wanting the ufc to sue people. yeah that’s exactly what the world needs more people getting sued for voicing their freedom of speech and freedom of the press. crawl back into the hole from which u came.

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